Cheeky fan rushes Kohli to get Test embrace

A cricket fan enters the pitch to take a selfie and hug Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli (R) during the first day's play of the second Test cricket match between India and West Indies. Photo: AFP

AFP, Hyderabad

Fan rushes Kohli to get embrace

An overenthusiastic fan breached security at Hyderabad cricket ground on Friday to take a selfie with Virat Kohli, but was stopped before he was able to plant a kiss on the Indian captain's cheek.

Kohli was at mid-wicket in the opening session of the first day of India's second Test against the West Indies when the young fan ran on the field and embraced the Indian star.

Security officers overpowered the youngster and hauled him off the field as the crowd roared and clapped. The umpires called for a drinks break as Kohli was visibly upset.

It was the second incident in the series after Kohli was surrounded by selfie-taking fans in the middle of the first Test in Rajkot last week.

Kohli, 29, is often the subject of adulation with one fan touching his feet before taking a selfie during an Indian Premier League game this year.

19 charged in Belgian fraud probe

Belgian prosecutors have charged 19 suspects and detained nine in a massive fraud and match-fixing scandal that has mired Belgium's elite league in scandal, they said on Friday.

The charges came after police on Wednesday carried out a massive operation in Belgium, arresting 29 people, 10 of which were released without charges.

Among the detained were at least three players' agents, a referee, and a top executive from a major football club, a statement from prosecutors said.

Mogi Bayat, portrayed in the media as Belgium's most powerful sports agent, was charged with money laundering and conspiracy, the statement said.

Bayat was detained pending his next hearing, as were fellow agents Dejan Veljkovic and Karim Mejjati, who were questioned this week as part of the operation targeting Belgium's football elite.

Siddikur moves up

Siddikur Rahman moved up to seventh position in the UMA CNS Open Golf Championship in Karachi after a two-under (70) in the second round yesterday.

The two-time Asian Tour winner exchanged three birdies for a bogey at the Karachi Golf Club to take a share of the seventh position at three-under (141). Three Thai players enjoyed the lead at seven-under (137) in the 300,000-dollar event, which is a comeback event for the Asian Tour in Pakistan after a gap of 11 years.

Ireland's O'Brien retires

Ireland wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O'Brien announced on Friday that he is retiring from international and first-class cricket after a 16-year career.

The 36-year-old, who made his international debut against Denmark in 2002, played 216 times for Ireland and appeared in his nation's first-ever Test, against Pakistan, in May this year.

O'Brien opted for the number 72 shirt to mark his match-winning score in Ireland's famous win against Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup.

"It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my retirement from international and professional cricket," said O'Brien, who has played much of his career alongside his younger brother Kevin. "I have been blessed to have been lucky enough to have represented my country for 16 years with plenty more ups than downs and for this I look back with nothing but smiles and laughter."

Djokovic relishing Zverev semi

Novak Djokovic said that he was relishing facing "top player" Alexander Zverev in Saturday's semifinals of the Shanghai Masters, just the second meeting between them.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion beat Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 on Friday to set up the tasty last-four clash.

The 31-year-old from Serbia is in sparkling form, winning Wimbledon, the Cincinnati Masters and US Open in recent months, after having elbow surgery in February.

Djokovic said they were "both different players" now.

"I wasn't -- I feel like -- playing as well as I'm playing today," he warned. "But also he has improved a lot and he has established himself as a top player. It's going to be definitely a close match."